Exploring the Arboretum
Section Gay features a diverse expansion of the Arboretum’s conifer collection. Here you’ll encounter species such as Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica– pictured here), loblolly pine, bald cypress, and the dawn redwood. While the latter two of these trees are deciduous conifers that lose their needles in winter, they offer beautiful seasonal changes, including warm bronze tones in fall. The Japanese cedar’s foliage is evergreen and soft to the touch. This species is also the national tree of Japan.
Significant Figures
Map
Reference: Stop 4, Letter F
Velma Baker
“Velma” the Riveter | Lot #165
(Second
Presbyterian Lot)
Velma Ray Wood Baker moved to St. Louis from the South while World War II was raging to work for the war effort, which earned her the nickname “Velma the Riveter.” Always giving back to the community, she and her husband worked with Project COPE, aiding formerly incarcerated individuals and reintegrating them into society. As 40-year members of Second Presbyterian Church, the Bakers were permitted to be laid to rest here with the church's clergy.
